Journal box construction for railway cars



Feb. 7, 1956 J. L. RYAN 2,733,966

JOURNAL BOX CONSTRUCTION FOR RAILWAY CARS Filed March 19, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l \51 5 I i i 'K/ZQ 25 477 Feb. 7, 1956 J. RYAN JOURNAL BOX CONSTRUCTION FOR RAILWAY CARS Filed March 19, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2,733,966 JOURNAL BOX coNsgn ugrroN FOR RAILWAY James L. Ryan, Springfield, Mo.

Application March 19, 1952, Serial No. 277,446

Claims. (Cl. 308-40) This invention relates to improvements in journal box construction for railwaycars and it consists of thematters he einafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In a standard railway freight car truck and axle construclion, the conventional practice is to provide trucks with journal bearings of the solid type in which the bearing member proper fits vinto a retaining wedge in the crown of the journal box; As the bearings have a relatively shallow depth, the journals of the axle are subject to being displaced out of the bearings due to the action of heavy impacts occurring in yard switching and slack runs on the line of theroad. :Sometimes the movement of the journal-is ofsuch magnitude that a displacement of the bearing member takes place with disastrous results. Al o .during'such heavy impacts, the lubricating packing, usually .an oiled waste that is disposed in the bottom of the box, is likewise displaced upwardly of the sides of the box. Thispaclting displacement sometimes occurs to such an extent that .the strands of the oiled Waste ca ch between the bearing and the journal and shuts ofi lubrication therebetween. This condition which is known as aste grab leads to objectionable results.

Cert in ules and regulations govern journal box construction of this kind and it is impractical to change the same with the result that there are limitations as to space and arrangement of parts which cannot be avoided.

am aware that attempts have been made to provide structures in the standard journal. box which will limit he la ral movement of the journal relative to the sides f the box, but such attempts have not proven satisfactory, either from the standpoint of ,elficient operation, cost or assembly. In some attempted structures, journal imp t r eiving mem ers have been provided in confl n with he sides of theboX but this .in such a manner as to be capable of movcmentwith respect to the box. .Thus, the journal impact members are likely to rattle when the car is under way and are also capable of being displace from their intended positions under brake application and the like with objectionable results.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide, in a journal box, a structure of such design that counterparts thereof can readily 'be applied and held in position against the inner faces of the sides of the box .in such manner as to be firmly .fixed against movement in any direction, which-will function to prevent the lateral movement of the journal out of its bearing as well as preventing the displacement of the bearing itself, and which also will function to prevent the so-called waste grab action which often obtains in journal boxes due to inertia forces of the wheels and axles of the car, when the latter is heavily impacted or receives a severe brake application.

Another object of the invention is to provide simple and etficient counterpart members of bearing material, noninjurious to a journal surface, on the inner faces of the sides of the box, and which may be readily and economically afforded in not only new car trucks but may be United States Patent 0 "ice as readily and economically applied to the journal box of car trucks that are presently in service.

A'further object of the'invention is to provide stop members of bearing material on the inner face of the sides of a journal box to restrain the lateral movement of the journal in the box to that of the free limited movement between the associated bearing of the box and its wedge. I I

Also it is an object of the invention to :provide in a structure of this kind parts having their activerface's arranged to clear the journal when-the journal is in its normal running position and the'brakes of the car are in release. Furthermore it is an object of the invention to provide in a structure of this kind members that limit the lateral movement of the journal in the box and which may be positively secured to thesides of the box by bolts applied from the outside thereof.

Again it is an object of the invention to provide lateral stop members for the journal which are counterparts, which may be readily applied-to the box and as readily removed therefrom when changing wheels.

The above mentioned objects of the invention, aswell as others, along with the advantages thereof will more fully appear as the specification proceeds.-

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through a railway car journal box, embodying the preferred form of the invention, as taken on the line 1--1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the journal box of Fig. l as taken on the line 2-2 thereof. I i

Fig. 2 is a view showing parts at the bottom of Fig. 2 on a smaller scale illustrating the oiled waste packing in the lower portion of the box and which will be more fully mentioned later.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view through the improved journal box of Fig. l as taken on the line 3- 3 thereof. v

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of one of a pair of counterpart journal impact receiving members as viewed from the active face thereof and on a scale somewhat larger than the scale of Fig. l. v

Fig. 5 is atopplan view of the memberappearing in Fig. 4. a

Fig. 6 is a view in end elevation of the member appearing in Figs. 4 and 5. a

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing a modified form of active face that may be employed in theimpact receiving member.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings 10 indicates a'journal box as a whole, which is herein shown as being an integral part of the side frame 11 of a railway car truck. A

The journal box is of a conventional construction and includes upright side walls 12-12 that extend between a flat top wall or crown 13 and a: rounded bottom wall '14. The upper part of the front end of the box is made as an opening 15 which is closed by a cover (not shown) hinged to lugs 16 at the front end of the crown or top of the box. The rear end of said box has wall portions in which are longitudinally spaced openings 17 and 18 separated from each other by a dust guard groove or passage 19; Each side wall 12 is formed between its ends with an internal hollow projection 20 thatcxtends downwardly from the crown and then curves outwardly to merge at its bottom into the associated side wall. The purpose of said projections is to afford abutments for engagement by parts of a journal bearing member 22 that includes a babbit or like bottom facing 23. 21 indicates the wedge for the bearing member and which wedge is disposed between said bearing member and top wall arsaase or crown of the box. At the underside of the crown or top wall 13, at the front end thereof is a lug 13 (see Fig. l), which acts as a restraining stop for the previously mentioned wedge of the box.

A part of an axle 25 is shown in broken lines in Figs. 1 and 3 and it includes a portion 26 of reduced diameter and from which extends the journal 27 that terminates at its outer end in a shoulder 28. The journal end of the axle may be entered into the box through the openings 17 and 18. The babbit facing 23 of the bearing member 22 is contoured to engage upon the upper portion of the journal and said facing and member are positioned between the axle portion 26 and shoulder 28 of the journal.

The structure just above described is conventional in 'a freight car journal box and in connection therewith I provide a pair of lateral stops 30, with one stop detachably secured to the inner face of each side wall 12 in line with the axis of the journal.

The stops 30 are counterparts and are made of material that when engaged by the journal will in no way mar or damage the smooth external cylindrical surface thereof. One of said stop members 30 is shown in Figs. 4, and 6 respectively. The member 30 is made preferably in the form of an elongaged block-like body, substantially square in cross section and of a length shorter than the bearing 22 to the extent to not contact collar 28 or axle portion 26 in operation. As shown in Figs. 4-6, stop member 30 has front and rear parallel vertical surfaces 31-32 and top and bottom horizontal surfaces 33 and 34 respectively, the front surface 31 thus being a planar surface. If desired, but not necessarily so, the front face may be divided into longitudinally spaced active impact receiving portions 31 which are separated by perpendicular recesses 35. Referring to the drawings, and more particularly Figs. 3 and 4, it is apparent that portions 31 may be referred to as projecting portions of the joumal stop, i. e., as projecting from the main body portion of the journal stop. Also, if desired, the front face of the member may be curved on the radius of the journal as at 31', as shown in Fig. 6 instead of being parallel with the flat rear face 32, as appears in Fig. 6. Rising from the top surface of the member 30, at the back thereof, are upright end flanges 36 which are separated by a recess 37 in the back of the member. This recess has a length approximating the width of projections 20 on the side walls of the box, and it flares or widens forwardly at the top, as best appears in Figs. 4, 5 and 6.

Opening from the back, into each part of the member 30, at each side of the recess 37, is an internally threaded recess 38, and there is provided in each side Wall of the box, generally in the plane of the axis of the journal, openings 39. These openings register with the openings 38 in the members 30, and permit the passage of bolts 40 therethrough from the outer surfaces of the side walls for a threaded engagement in the openings 38, with the heads 41 of said bolts tightly engaged with said outer surfaces of the sides of the box. Each stop member 30 is thus held in a rigid manner against movement in all directions relative to the journal box. A locking wire 42 passes through the heads of the bolts on the same side of the box to prevent turning of the bolts.

When applying a body of oiled waste to a journal box as the lubricating packing therefor, it is recommended practice to dispose the top surface of the waste at each side of the box below but Within one inch of the plane of the axis of the journal. Therefore, it is desirable that the bottom horizontal surface 34 of each member 30 be so disposed as not to extend below this one inch position. Thus, the surfaces 34 of said members 30 provide waste retaining ledges which function in the same manner, but are much wider and more effective than certain waste retaining ledges which have been applied to the journal boxes of a considerable number 4 of cars in recent years and which have met the approval of the A. A. R. t

The flanges 36 provide a substantial application of the members 30 to the sides of the journal box by permitting the placing of the holes 38 in said members as high as possible therein, with ample body strength of said members. However, while said flanges are desirable they are not absolutely essential to the invention and in some instances may be omitted. When so omitted, the position of the holes 38 is lowered to about a plane midway between the top and bottom horizontal surfaces 33--34 of the body of the member 30. The recess 37 is then so formed in the rear vertical surface 32 of the member 30 as to afford that clearance necessary for that bottom part of the projection 20 where it runs out or merges into the associated side of the box.

When said members have been attached to the inner face of each side of the box, the rear surface 32 of each block engages the inner face of the box. The top and bottom surfaces 33--34are disposed above and below a horizontal plane extending through the axis of the journal. The inner faces 31 of these members are disposed closely adjacent but out of contact with adjacent surfaces of the journal. Also when said members are so attached to the sides of the box, the upper portion of each recess 37 provides clearance for the bottom end portion of the associated side wall projection 20 with the inner ends of the shoulders 36 substantially'engaging the end surfaces of said side wall projections. The width of the member 30 between its front and rear surfaces is so proportioned that the inner active face 31 thereof is separated from the associated side of the journal by a space so narrow and of such limited order as quickly to be taken up by any action causing relative transverse movement between box and axle; also, the underface 34 is so located relative to the journal lubricating packing in the rounded bottom 14 that its width provides an effective retaining ledge that prevents the displacement of the packing, thus greatly reducing the opportunity for strands of the packing catching under the bearing member and shutting off lubrication with resulting overheating. This arrangement of the parts and the packing best appears in Fig. 2. Figs. 2 and 3 show that should journal 27 shift laterally into contact with either impact face 31, the resulting contact will be a substantially tangential contact since the journal is cylindrical and the impact face is planar. Furthermore, despite such contact, recesses 35, which can also be referred to as channels or groovers, permit lubricant to be carried by the journal and past the journal stop to the facing 23 of solid bearing 22 In applying the stop members 30 in position in a journal box, assume that the sides of the box are each provided with a pair of properly positioned openings 39. The members 30 are inserted into the box from the open front end thereof which affords room for the entrance of the hands 'thereinto. With the rear surface 32 of each member 30 facing the inner face of the associated side of the box with the flanges 36 uppermost, it is moved upwardly along said face to bring the openings 38 thereof into registry with the openings 39 in the sides 12 of the box. The bolts are then inserted through said openings 39 into the openings 38 of each member 30 and are then threaded home, at which time the heads of the bolts engage the outer face of the side of the box. This draws the member 30 into tight engagement with the associated side of the box, after which the wire 42 is applied to the heads of said bolts to lock them against turning in a manner to loosen the same. The other member 30 is applied to its associated side wall in the same manner.

In proportioning the parts of each member 30, the depth of the flanges 36 is so made as to provide the desired clearance necessary when jacking up the box,

avaa'bee until'th'ewed'g'e 21 clears the lugs 13 and permits removal of the bearing 22 without removing the members 30.

With the members 30 arranged in place in atjournal box fa'sdescribed they function to restrain the movement of the {journal longitudinally of the car (laterally of the box) to that free movement provided in the bearing 22 and wedge 21 and clearance .at the internal projections 20 on the sides of the box.

Shims may be inserted between the rear face of each member 30 and the associated side of the box to even up the desired clearance between said members 30 and the journal and, as before mentioned, this clearance is such as to permit a free turning of the journal when the same is in normal running .position and the brakes of the car are released.

The lateral bearin'gstop members have several advantages. They are of a simple and economical one-piece construction, .are strong and rigid and will not mar or damage the surface of the journal when impacted thereby and may be readily applied. Also said members limit the lateral movement of the journal in the box and prevent displacement of the bearings as well as provide wide retaining ledges that effectively prevent the displacement of the journal box packing, greatly reducing the opportunity for the so called waste grab.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a railway car journal box including a crown, vertical side walls each having inner and outer faces, and a bottom, of ahorizontal railway car axle having an end part positioned in the journal box, said end part terminating in an annular collar and having a journal portion of reduced diameter, said annular collar providing a shoulder defining the outer end of the journal portion, means providing a solid hearing between said crown and said journal portion, a journal stop extending from the inner face of each journal box side wall toward said journal portion, and means directly and detachably connecting in rigid manner each said journal stop to a respective side wall of the journal box, each journal stop having an impact face located closely adjacent said journal portion in a position to be contacted by that adjacent part of said journal portion which lies substantially in a horizontal plane passing through the axis of the journal portion, said impact face also extending parallel to the axis of the journal portion for a major part of the axial length of the journal portion whereby, upon a shifting of the journal portion laterally of the journal box to a predetermined extent, the journal portion will come into contact with an impact face throughout a major part of the axial length of the journal portion to prevent further lateral shifting, each impact face being formed by the ends of a plurality of projecting portions of said journal stop spaced apart in a horizontal direction by a plurality of upwardly extending channels, the ends of said projecting portions being located in a common substantially vertical plane parallel to the axis of the journal portion whereby, when the journal portion shifts laterally into contact with an impact face, said impact face contacts the journal portion substantially tangentially and the channels located between projecting portions of the journal stop permit oil to be carried by said journal portion to the solid bearing between the crown and the journal portion despite contact between the journal portion and an impact face.

2. The combination with a railway car journal box including a crown, vertical side walls each having inner and outer faces, and a bottom, of a horizontal railway car axle having an end part positioned within the journal box, said end part terminating in an annular collar and having a journal portion of reduced diameter, said annular collar providing a shoulder defining the outer end of the journal portion, means providing a solid bearing between said crown and said journal, each side wall of said box having an inward projection for engagement with the means forming a solid bearing to hold said solid bearing in place, a journal stop positioned between-each journal box side 'wall and said journal portion, each journal stopbeing a block-like member having a .planar impact face formed by the ends of a plurality of projecting portions of said journal stop, said projecting sportions being spaced apart in a horizontal direction to define a plurality of upwardly disposed channels forming oil grooves, said impact face extending lengthwise of the journal portion for a major part of the length of said journal portion and being located closely adjacent said journal portion in a position to make tangential contact with that adjacent part of said journal portion which lies substantially in a horizontal plane passing through 'the axis of the journal portion upon shifting of the journal portion laterally of the journal box to 'a predetermined extent, each journal stop portion adjacent the inner face of the journal box vertical side wall associated therewith having a recess therein receiving said inward projection ofsaid journal box vertical side wall, and means detachably connecting each journal stop 'to the journal box side wall with which said stop is associated, said connecting means extending through the journal box side wall and directly engaging said stop, being accessible from the outside of the journal box and serving to hold the journal stop against movement in all directions relative to the journal box.

3. The combination with a railway car journal box including a crown, vertical side walls each having inner and outer faces, and a bottom, of a horizontal railway car axle having an end part positioned in the journal box, said and part terminating in an annular collar and having a journal portion of reduced diameter, said annular collar providing a shoulder defining the outer end of the journal portion, means providing a solid bearing between said crown and said journal portion, and a journal stop extending from the inner face of each journal box side wall toward said journal portion, each journal stop having a curved impact face located closely adjacent to said journal portion in a position to be contacted by that adjacent portion of said journal portion which lies substantially in a horizontal plane passing through the axis of the journal portion, said impact face extending parallel to the axis of the journal portion for a major portion of the axial length of the journal portion whereby, upon a shifting of the journal portion laterally of the journal box to a predetermined extent, the journal portion will come into contact with an impact face throughout a major portion of the axial length of the journal portion to prevent further lateral shifting, each impact face being formed by the ends of a plurality of projecting portions of said journal stop spaced apart in a horizontal direction by a plurality of upright channels whereby, if the journal portion shifts laterally into contact with an impact face, the channels located between projecting portions of the journal stop permit oil to be carried by said journal portion to the solid hearing between the crown and the journal portion despite contact between the journal portion and an impact face, and means detachably connecting each journal stop to the journal box side wall with which said stop is associated, said connecting means extending through the journal box side wall and directly engaging said stop, being accessible from the outside of the journal box and serving to hold the journal stop against movement in all direc tions relative to the journal box.

4. A journal stop for use in limiting lateral shifting of a railway car axle journal with respect to the side Walls of its journal box, preventing waste grab, and assuring passage of adequate lubricant to the main brass even if the journal does shift into contact with the journal stop, said journal stop comprising an elongated blocklike body portion and a plurality of projecting portions extending perpendicularly from said body portion along one side of said body portion to form an impact face, said projections being spaced apart throughout the length of said journal stop and defining a plurality of channels each extending from the top to the bottom of the journal stop impact face, the ends of said projecting portions being located in a common plane whereby the cylindrical outer surface of a railway car axle journal can contact said projecting ends in a tangential manner, the channels between said projecting portions permitting oil to be carried past the impact face of said journal stop by said journal despite such contact, and said journal stop body portion having a rear face provided with means for direct engagement with securing means passing through the journal box side wall for detachably connecting the journal stop to a journal box side wall to hold the journal stop against movement in all directions.

5. A journal stop for use in limiting lateral shifting of a railway car axle journal with respect to its journal box, preventing waste grab, and assuring passage of adequate lubricant to the solid bearing despite contact between the journal and the journal stop, said journal stop being an elongated block-like body of bearing material having a planar impact face for tangential contact with the axle journal, a rear face, a top face, and a bottom face, said rear face having openings therein adapted to'receive bolts passing through a journal box side wall for detachably connecting the journal stop to'said journal box side wall to hold the same against movement in all directions and also having a recess therein adapted to receive the inward projection of a journal box side wall, and said impact face being interrupted throughout the length thereof by channels which extend between the top face and the bottom face of the journal stop to provide oil grooves for carrying oil past said journal stop impact face despite contact between a journal and the impact face.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 701,065 Magee May 27, 1902 1,941,486 Pilcher Jan. 2, 1934 1,967,512 Pilcher July 24, 1934 2,495,410 Fisher Jan. 24, 1950 

